Machine for expanding cut and corrugated metal.



H. HILL. MACHINE FOR EXPANDING OUT AND GORRUGATED METAL.

APPLIOATION FILED 0012B, 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

r HIH I NH 3 WITNESSES flw H. HILL. MACHINE FOR EXPANDING GUT AND CORRUGATED METAL.

APPLIOATIO N IILED OUT. 28, 1908.

Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

ink/EN m HBTJIZCUIIZ H 2;

UNITED STATES PATENT onrron.

HERMANN HILL, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE-F03 EXPANDING OUT AND CORRUGATED METAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN HILL, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of West Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Expanding Cut and. Corru ated Metal, of which the following is a spec cation.

This invention relates to mechanism for expanding or opening sheet metal after it has been cut and corrugated in a Way to permit of the expansion of the metal or opening of the meshes therein without stretching the metal and without a contraction of the sheet in the direction of the cuts to compensate for or permit the expansion in the other direction.

In preparing metal for treatment by a machine made in accordance with. my present invention the metal has first formed therein two series of alternatingly interrupted cuts leaving series of alternating keys at the points where the cuts are interrupted. The metal is also corrugated in such a way that the conformation of the corrugations will substantially correspond to the contour of a transversely arranged series of bars in the expanded metal with the connecting keys between them, whereby a sheet of such cut and corrugated metal may be expanded by forcing every other row of such transversely arranged bars longitudinally away from' the sheet in the direction of the expansion and bending every intermediate series of transversely arranged bars with their connecting keys in a direction opposite to that in which they lie in the cut and'corrugated metal, in order that they may form a series of connecting bars oppositely disposed to the first named series.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a relatively fixed form for supporting the .metal, the conformation of which is adapted to receive the corrugated metal and support the same, and in connection with such a sup port I provide a reciprocating form having members adapted to engage successive transversely arranged series of keys and preferably the upper ones in such a cut and corrugated sheet and thus force every other transversely arranged series of bars away from the sheet in the direction of the expansion and simultaneously bend every intermediate set of bars in an opposite direction from that in which they lie in the cut and corrugated sheet. Feeding mechanism is also provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 28, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 459,869.

for properly feeding the sheet and a part of the reciprocating expanding mechanism is adapted t9 control the longitudinal feed of the sheet in such a way that the sheet may be fed by means of weights or springs or any like device and the amount and the time of such feed is controlled by the arrangement of the engaging members of the expanding mechanism.

The accompanying drawings illustrating a machine made in accordance with my invention are as follows 2-- Figure 1, is a side view. Fig. 2, is a artial rear elevation with a part of the mi dle of the machine removed and with parts of the expanding plates also removed to show the construction and arrangement thereof; Fig. 3, is a detail view of the means for returning the reci rocating expanding mechanism to its initia position. Fig. 4, is an end viewpf the expanding forms and with a part of the sheet of metal in place to be acted on thereby. Fig. 5, is a rear face view of the lower and the first two upper expanding forms as seen in Fig. 4, and shows a part of an expanded sheet. Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 4, but with the parts in a difierent position and shows part of the sheet as expanded thereby. Fig. 7, is a top view 'of the cut and corrugated metal before it is expanded and, -Fig. 8, is an end view, projected horizontally to the right from Fig. 6, of a part of a sheet of the metal with'a portion thereof expanded downwardly.

Similar letters refer to. similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, for supporting the operating parts of my machine, make use of a framework comprising vertical i standards C connected at their upper ends.

lon itudinally of the machine by cross bars 0 an transversely of the machine by cross bars 0 and near their lower ends by longitudinally disposed cross bars 0 and transversely (llS- posed cross bars 6*. Bolted to the cross bars 0 are seen the vertically disposed standards D, one at each side of the machine, between which is secured the crpss plate H and the bed piece T. The bed piece T has a downwardly extending flange portion t and bracing webs t for stiffening the same. The cross plate H has suitable reinforcing flanges 7L thereon as indicated in Fi 1 and in dotted lines in Fig.2. On the si e of the late H toward the observer in Fig. 2, bein' t e right hand side in 1, are secured gui ing plates 2. mares 0, between each pair of which there is arranged to be reciprocated vertically the cross heads O carrying at their upper ends revoluble rollers 7" arranged to be engaged by the cams R on the shaft S which is supported in suitable bearings F on the plate H and f on the standards 1). On the left hand end of l this shaft as seen in Fig. 2, is a spur gear G intermeshing with the spur gear 9 on the 10 shaft 8 revolubly supported at its left hand end in Fig. 2, in an out-bearing E, the inner end of this shaft 8 being supported in a bearing, not shown, in the standard D seen to the left in Fig. 2. On the shaft 8 are seen pulleys N and N, the rotation of that one of which is rigidly secured to the shaft 8 causes the rotation of the shaft S in the way clearly indicated. The engagement of the cams R on the shaft S w ith the rollers 1 carried by the cross heads 0 secured on the rear side of the reciprocating plate P forces such plate P downwardly. Upon the outer lower edge of this plate P is seen the angle bar B carrying on its rear left hand or inner face the series of plates or formsb, b 5 b and b adapted to cooperate w ith the corresponding series of plates or forms a, a, a and a secured in the angle of the at le plate A which in turn rests upon a ledge t ormed on the bed piece T as shown more fully in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The upper edge of this angle bar A is corrugated to conform to the under surface of the sheet of cut and corrugated metal m as seen thereon in Fl 5. 4, 5,-and 6. Such a corrugated sheet is fe through the machine by the plate U which engages the rear edge of the sheet m and is secured on the ends of rods a, arranged to work through guides therefor i carried by the bed lacs 1' and extending to and through the gui e arms y near their lefthand ends as seen in Fig. 1. The rods to have secured thereon the studs v working in suitable slots seen in Fig. 1. The rods u have secured thereon the studs 12 working in suitable slots therefor in the upper ends of the arms V, se-

cured in the castings '0 on shaft 5, which is revolubly supported in suitable bearings therefor carried by the arm pieces 0 There is also secured to these castings 'uoutwardly extending arms V upon which there are adjustably secured wei hts to operating to st. ing the upper ends 0 the arms V for .rardly or to the right as seen in Fig. 1 and carrying with them the rods u and" the plate U by which the sheet of metal m is thus forced to the right'as seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 when the position of the expanding mechanism mits of its being thus advanced or force to the right, the front edge of this sheet of metal m being brought into enga ement and *forced against the plate or form 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

When the late P carrying the bar B, with the forms 5, 5 3;,6 and 6 thereon, is forced downwardly to'the position indicated in Fig.

6, that portion of the sheet m which extended over and to the right of the right hand edge of the plate A as seen in Fig. l, a d.' stance just equaling the width of two bars in the expanded metal of the width of one key in the expanded metal, is forced downwardly, in the manner to be explained, to form two adjacent and connected transversely arranged series of bars in the expanded metal.

For raising the rate P with the bar B thereon, after each downward stroke thereof, 1 make useof a series of bell crank levers each pivotally supported on a stud Z and rojecting from the plate H. Each such be l'crank lever comprises a horizontal member Z and a vertical member I, the horizontal members adapted to engage the .under sides of bearing blocks p therefor carried by the cross heads 0, the vertically disposed me1nbers of such bell crank levers articulate at 35 their lower ends with the connecting link L, the right hand end of which, as seen in Fig. 2, articulates with the upper end of the lever L rotatably supported-upon a stud or bolt projecting from the arm (.1 secured to the right hand standard D. This lever L has a horizontal extension I secured thereto on which a weight may be adjustably supported to raise the plate P through-the mechanism already just described, after each downward stroke thereof.

It will "of course be understood that it is immaterial What means are em loyed to operate the lever arm I, althou h l prefer as above stated to make use 0 a weight or spring.

Attention may now becalled to the fact that Fig. 5, is drawn by horizontal projection from Fig. 4, as an aid in explaining the apparatus from the drawings.

The sheet of metal m rests upon the bed piece T and upon the angle bar A which is corrugated to conform to the corrugated sheet m. The expandin forms I), I), b", b and b secured in the an'g e of the reciprocat ing bar B and the cooperating expandin forms a, a a}, and a are secured in the liner angle bar A, all of such expanding forms are of a thickness substantially equaling the space between the cuts in the cutmetal or the width of a bar in the expanded metal.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, starting with the sheet of metal in the position indicated in Fig. 4, the forms I) and b conformed as clearly indicated in Fig. 5, engage the metal m at the upperseries of keys therein and the plate or form I) engages simultaneously the outer row of bars at all points thereinwhile the plate Z2 engages back of or to the left in Fig. 4, of the plate Z7 forcing the two series of bars under such plates Z) and b downwardly against the plates a and a which are formed to receive respectively the plates 3) and b and thus form the first transversely arranged series of meshes in the expanded metal. The

' operating my machine are such as to call for bars and keys thus far lyingsubstantially transverse to the direction of the travel of thei'eciprocating forms 3) and b. The form 6 serves as a limiting stop against which, when the bar B is raised to its uppermost position, the metal m is fed by the mechanism alreadyde'scribed and each time the bar B is again raised the metal at is forced again to the right and the already expanded portions thereof are also forced to the right so as to come under the expanding forms If and b cooperating with which are the fixed forms a? and a and by means of which, at the next downward stroke of the angle bar B, the bars and the keys in that portion of the metal which was expanded by the last preceding downward stroke of the angle bar B are bent so as to present the conformation clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 8Q This operation is repeated for each complete stroke of the reciprocating bar B and at the completion of each upward stroke the metal at is fed against the form I) and at each downward stroke the metal m under the forms I) and b is expanded in the manner already described and that portion of the sheet which was expanded at the preceding operation is engaged and operated upon by the expanding forms b and b and the forms (1- and 1L3 cooperating therewith to properly bend the bars and keys in the already expanded metal m obliquely downward and forward at each operation of the bar B.

In operating my machine, the metal m is inserted betweenthe plate U and the expanding forms 17 when the bar B is at its uppermost position, by drawing the plate U to the left in Figs. 1, 4 and 6 sufliciently to permit thesheet to be inserted on the bed piece T and to the right of such plate U, then b I means of power applied to the driving pu leys of the machine the plate P with the bar B thereon is caused to be reciprocated in the manner already clearly described. The metal is expanded one mesh at a time at each reciprocation of the plate P, and at each such reciprocation in that portion of the metal expanded at the last preceding reciprocation, the bars and keys are bent to lie obliquely as already described and clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and 8.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the construction and method of no further explanation herein. I may add however, that the expanding form I) helps to keep the already expanded and formed-up metal in shape by engaging the rear series of bars of succeeding meshes and forcing the same downwardly at each downward stroke of the bar B.

What I claim is 1. In a device for the purpose described, a bed ada ted to receive and en port a sheet of cut an corrugated metal and a relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to engage successively upper transversely arranged series of keys presented thereto and force such keys away from their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distancesequaling gated sheet.

2. In a device for the purpose described, a bed adapted to receive and support a sheet of cut and corrugated metal and a relatively reciprocating element carr ing members adapted to engage successive y upper transversely arranged: series of keys resented thereto and force such keys away rom their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh in the expanded metal and in so doing to force each rear pair of bars connected to the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that in which they lie in the cut and corrugated sheet, such relatively reciprocating element carrying other members adapted to successively engage the bars surrounding succeeding. transversely arranged series of meshes when thus forced to their pro or positions in the expanded metal an them relatively to the plane of the travel of such relatively reciprocating expanding members. I

'3. In a device for the purpose described,

incline a bed adapted to receive and su port a sheet of cut an corrugated metalau a relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to engage successively upper trans versely arranged series of keys presented thereto and force such keys away from their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh in the e'x:

panded metal and in so doing to force each rear pair of bars connected to the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that in which they lie in the cut-and oorr'u gated sheet, such relatively reci rocating element carrying other members a apted to successively engage the bars surrounding succeeding transversely arranged series of meshes when thus forced to their proper positions in the expanded metal and mclme them relatively to the plane of the travel of such relatively reciprocating ex anding members and means for intermittent feeding the sheet of the cut and corrugate' metal to such expandin mechanism distances equaling the length longitudinally of the sheet of the keys in such transversely-arranged series thereof.

4. In a device for the purpose described, a bed adapted to receive and support a sheet of out and corrugated metal and a relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to engage successively upper transversely arranged series of keys presented thereto and force such keys away from their normal. positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh in the expanded metaland in so doing to force each rear pair of barconnected to the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that in which they lie in the cut and corrugated. sheet and means for intermittently feeding the sheet of cut and corrugated metal to such expanding mechanism distances equaling the length longitudinally of the sheet of the keys in such transversely arranged series thereof.

5;. In a device for the purpose described, a bed-adapted to receive and support a sheet of cut and corru ated metal and a relatively reciprocating e emen't carrying members adapted to engage successively upper transversely arranged series of keys resented -thereto and force such keys away rom their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet instraight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh in the expanded metal and in so doing to force each rear pair of bars connected to the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that in which they lie in the cut and corrugated sheet; means for intermittently feeding the sheet of cut and corrugated metal to such expanding mechanism distances equaling the length longitudinally of the sheet of the keys in such transversely arranged series thereof, such relatively reciprocating element carrying members-adapted to limit the amount of each such forward advance of the sheet of cut and corrugated metal. 7

6. In a devicefor the purpose described, a bed adapted to receive and support a sheet of cut and corrugated metal and a relatively reciprocating 7 element carrying members adapted to engage successively upper trans.- versely arranged series of keys presented thereto and force such keys away from their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh. in the expandedmetal and in-so doing to force each rear pair of bars connected to. the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that inwhich they lie in the cut and ccrrueieuec' gated sheet, s'uch relatively reciprocating element carrying other members adapted to successively engage the bars surrounding succeeding transversely arranged series of meshes when thus forced to their roper positions in the expanded metal and incline them relatively to the plane of the travel of such relatively reciprocating expanding members; means for intermittently feeding the sheet of cut and corrugated metal to such expanding mechanism distances equaling the length longitudinally of the sheet of the keys in such transversely arranged series thereof, and such relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to limit the amount oi each such forward advance of the sheet of cut and corrugated metal.

7. In adevice for the purpose described, a bed adapted to receive and support a sheet of cut and corrugated metal and a relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to engage successively upper transversely arranged series of keys resented thereto and force such keys away fi om their normal positions in the cut and corrugated sheet in straight lines distances equaling the length longitudinally of a mesh in the expanded metal and in so doing to force each rear pair of bars connected to the keys in each such series in a direction opposite to that in which they lie inthe cut and corrugated sheet, such relativel reciprocating element carrying other mem ers adapted to successively engage the bars surrounding succeedin transversely arranged series of meshes when thus forced to their proper positions in the expanded metal and incline them relativel to the plane of the travel of such relative y reciprocating expandingmembers; means for mtermittently'feeding the sheet of cut and corrugated metal to such expandin mechanism distances equaling the length longitudinally of the sheet of the keys in such transversely arranged series thereof, such relatively reciprocating element carrying members adapted to limit the amount of each such forward advance of the sheet of cut and corrugated metal and such limiting means comprising some of such other engaging members carried by such relatively reciprocating element;

HERMANN HlLL. Witnesses:

AMOBY E. ROWLAND, HENRY W. Laura. 

